MELANOSPERME. 5D 
very thin, and only the tips or younger portions adhere to paper in drying. 
The colour of the living plant is a brownish olive, but the terminal divi- 
sions change in drying to a very delicate tint of yellowish green. This 
species is said to be biennial, and is in perfection in July. 
Concerning that remarkable plant called Padina pavonia (Fig. 58), 
Dr. Harvey has observed, “‘it is without parallel among seaweeds.”’ 
The outspread fronds of this magnificent alga resemble variegated 
feathers, and the curved lines which adorn the surface, together with 
the beautiful fringe of golden-tinted filaments which ornament the 
upper margin of the fronds, have suggested the picturesque and highly 
appropriate specific name of Pavonia, or the Peacock. In the pretty 
village of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight, near where this lovely plant 
grows in abundance, I have heard it called ‘‘ Prince of Wales’ Feathers.” 
Our illustration is from a tuft of this species which grew in one of the 
prolific rock pools on the shore at Shanklin. This plant is a native of the 
tropics, and is abundant in the Mediterranean and the Channel Islands, its 
northern limit being the southern shores of England. Its favourite place 
of growth is in shallow tide pools, where it can bask in the sunlight during 
the recess of the tide. When viewed thus growing under water it is a 
truly exquisite object, for the golden fringes of its curved segments 
decompose the rays of Jight and reflect the most beautiful rainbow tints. 
The fruit consists of long lines of dark olive spores produced beneath the 
outer coating of the frond along the concentric zones, which at maturity 
burst through the membrane, each spore finally separating into four parts 
or sporules. The under surface of the fronds is covered with a whitish or 
pale blue powdery substance ; and in mounting large tufts of this plant, a 
_ pretty effect may be produced by reversing some of the fronds so as to 
contrast the greenish olive of some with the blue-greyish tint of others, 
care being specially taken to secure those plants which are well provided 
with the beautiful fringe already described, the golden tint of which in 
summer plants, is invariably preserved in drying. 
The genus Zonaria, from the Greek word for a girdle or zone, contains 
two curious species ; one of which, Zonaria parvula, is found occasionally 
on various parts of our coasts, its usual habitat being in rather deep water 
on the story nullipores. Hence its rare appearance unless cast ashore 
after storms. Our illustration, Fig. 59, is from two fronds of the species 
Z. collaris, the collar-like zonaria. This singular plant grows on rocks, 
to which it is attached by numerous woolly fibres, which spring from 
the under surface of the primary fronds. The secondary frond or upper 
portion of the plant, as seen in the upper figure of our illustration, 
springs from the lower or procumbent frond, and is usually cup-shaped, 
slightly notched at intervals, and terminated with a border or fringe of 
delicate fibres. The fruit is produced from beneath both surfaces of 
the frond, which at maturity, bursts through the cuticle or membrane 
of the plant, and is found to consist of sori or groups of spores concealed 
among numerous jointed threads or filaments. 
